Removing Engler Is Only the First Step for MSU
For immediate release: January 17, 2019
Following a recent interview in which he disparaged victims of serial abuser Larry Nassar, the interim President at Michigan State University resigned yesterday. Today, the MSU Board of Trustees sped up that resignation so that it was effective immediately.
We are glad that MSU acted to remove ex-President John Engler following his latest insensitive remarks. However, removing Mr. Engler is not enough. If the trustees truly want to do what is best for both the survivors of Larry Nassar and their university, they should immediately commission an investigation into the culture and environment that allowed the doctor to prey on so many. Institutions cannot police themselves and investigations from outside consultants are needed, not just to determine criminal culpability, but to better understand the underlying structures, mechanisms, and causes that allowed allegations against Dr. Nassar to be ignored.
We call on newly-appointed President Satish Udpa to take the exact steps that his predecessors steadfastly refused to take, and to do what he can to make fundamental changes to the culture at Michigan State.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director